‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery‘ is the third film in the murder mystery franchise starring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc. Moviefone was in attendance at a recent press conference featuring writer and director Rian Johnson and star Josh O’Connor, where they reflected on the making of the movie.
R0AjYvLafG2Cfqpt5hXR84Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’
1) Rian Johnson Says ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ Is A Very Personal Story
Rian Johnson was asked if writing this third film was easier now that he already had two under his belt to which he replied no, because it was very personal for him.
Rian Johnson: Absolutely not. This is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever written, actually. This one was tough. And that means at the tail end of it, I’m just even more proud of kind of how it came out and just feel so good about it, but during the process itself — and it wasn’t necessarily because the mystery itself was more complex, although it kind of was. It was more the thematic elements of it. Because the movie’s about faith. That’s something that is very personal to me. I grew up very religious. I was very personally Christian when I was younger, up through my early 20s. It was just a big part of my life. And I am not a believer anymore.
2) Josh O’Connor Reveals His Faith Helped Him With This Role
Josh O’Connor talks how he was able to walk a fine line between comedy and tragedy due to his own faith.
Josh O’Connor: From a practical sense, this job is the greatest luxury and gift to be able to do it. I just want to try everything, and whether I’m good at it or not sometimes. But really, you’re able to do that with someone like Rian. And, first of all, the early conversations about faith was a big get-in for me. And that was something that, like Rian, has been in my mind for a long time. I grew up Irish Catholic and church going, and I think have quite a strong faith. It doesn’t necessarily have a clear home. And so all those questions that Rian was asking were ever-present in my life. And so I say that to say that, I think underneath, you are able to dance and do the comedy side if underneath there’s something of a profound truth bubbling underneath that role. And Rian’s so good at bringing those moments out. And it means that you are able to dance that fine line between comedy and grief and tragedy, which is very often the way.
3) Josh O’Connor Says There Is Nothing Like A ‘Knives Out’ Set
Take one look at an ensemble cast for a Rian Johnson ‘Knives Out’ movie and it is clear that top-notch actors want to work with him. Josh O’Connor reveals there is truly nothing like the set of one of these movies.
Josh O’Connor: Rian alluded to, and I can vouch for it, Rian’s an actor’s director. And so, so much of his attention, which is extraordinary, if you think about it, obviously, where Rian’s come from and the films he’s come from, he has that in his locker. But when you walk on a Knives Out set, I mean, the sets are extraordinary. The craftspeople are the best, second to none. And so the scale of it is bigger than anything I’ve ever done before. And yet, the time that Rian gives his actors makes it feel no different to being on set with Kelly Reichardt and just figuring out those same questions of like, what is stopping Father Jud from getting what he wants? What has he misunderstood? How does he overcome that? There was one day I was sat next to Rian on the monitor, and Rian was completely entranced. They weren’t filming, but Rian was looking and it was just Daniel, he had his headphones on, and he was doing his thing. And Rian was just loving watching Daniel do his thing, getting into the space.
4) Every ‘Knives Out’ Film Is Relevant To The Times We Are Living In
Rian Johnson thinks that what works so well about his franchise is that each movie is relevant to the times when it comes out. Because of this, he is not afraid to dicuss things like politics and religion.
Rian Johnson: From the first movie, part of the marching orders I had for myself with these films, and part of what makes them exciting, I love this genre so much. It’s a genre, though, that growing up, I think all of us have mostly seen done as period pieces, usually set in England, and kind of in timeless little villages or something. With the first movie, a big realization for me was that’s not what Agatha Christie did. She never wrote period pieces. She was always writing to her time and her moment. And her books, even later in her career, that were written in the 60s are set in the 60s. And also, I think the murder mystery form, it’s just, because you’re building these suspects, you’re building this little power structure within the suspects. Someone at the top is gonna get killed. It’s a great way of creating a microcosm of society. And so it seemed like a very potent tool to talk about, and hopefully in a fun way that’s still entertaining, to talk about the present moment.
5) Rian Johnson Is Already Working On The Next ‘Knives Out’ Film
When asked if there is potential for another film in the franchise, Rian Johnson explained that he is working on something else right now, but that he and Daniel Craig have been discussing Benoit Blanc’s next adventure already.
Rian Johnson: I’m writing my next film. It’s not one of these, it’s something original. It’s not because I’m burnt out on these. In fact, I’m energized after making this one and I really hope to come back. I’m already thinking. Daniel and I are already spit balling about what the next one could be down the line. To answer the second part of your question, would I ever let anyone else make these? It’s mine, it’s mine. They’ll pry it out of my cold dead hands. And similarly, if Daniel and I ever stop having fun and we both decide or he decides he doesn’t wanna do it anymore, then as far as I’m concerned, the series is over. This whole thing is just, it’s me and him making these movies together. That’s the joy of it for me. People can make other mysteries all they want, but this is something that’s for him and me. That’s what defines it for me.
What’s the story of ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’?
When young priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), it’s clear that all is not well in the pews.
After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
Who is in the cast of ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’?
- Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
- Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy
- Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix
- Josh Brolin as Msgr. Jefferson Wicks
- Mila Kunis as Geraldine Scott
- Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat Sharp
- Kerry Washington as Vera Draven
- Andrew Scott as Lee Ross
- Cailee Spaeny as Simone Vivane
- Daryl McCormack as Cy Draven
- Thomas Haden Church as Samson Holt
Other Movies Directed by Rian Johnson:
- ‘Brick’ (2005)
- ‘The Brothers Bloom’ (2008)
- ‘Looper’ (2012)
- ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi’ (2017)
- ‘Knives Out’ (2019)
- ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)
